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Book review: 'Apache Legends and Lore of Southern New Mexico'

Sanchez makes 'a lasting contribution to local history'

By Corey Bard

Ruidoso Public Library

Posted:
07/31/2014 03:18:58 PM MDT

"Apache Legends and Lore of Southern New Mexico," by Lynda Sanchez.

Eve Ball was Lynda Sanchez's mentor. Lynda Sanchez has continued a legacy of local history started by Ball in her association with Percy Bigmouth. "Apache Legends and Lore of Southern New Mexico" documents an oral tradition of the Apaches that Bigmouth had learned from his father Scout Bigmouth. Scout Bigmouth had survived internment at Fort Sumner and numerous Apache wars. The Apache once again live near their sacred Sierra Blanca where many of the legends and lore captured in this book originated.

The Apache way was an oral tradition. It has been two women from Ruidoso, Ball and now Sanchez, who could put into writing stories Percy Bigmouth remembered. These women were rare in the way they established friendships with members of the Mescalero. Though the reservation has neighbored Ruidoso for many years, there has been obvious caution between the neighbors in lieu of a long history that involved Indian Wars, and the U.S. government forcing the Apaches to live in Florida, Oklahoma, and Bosque Redondo. The tragedy of Bosque Redondo had Mescalero, Lipan, Chiricahua, Jicarilla, and Navajo forced to live together.

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The stories contained in this new book are from the mountain. The story of Creation, which nearly every culture has, is retold. Stories of animals: Be cautious of the rattlesnake and the owl. The coyote, the eminent trickster, or the doves, turkeys, bats found in caves give warning, prophecies, or look out for you as in the appearance of a raven.

The second collection of stories are of the people themselves and their courage on a hunt, in battle, in victory and defeat, and of women raising children. Sanchez has written a readable interesting account of the Mescalero and made a lasting contribution to local history.

Sanchez will speak at Ruidoso Public Library at 11 a.m. Aug. 7.

Lyn Kidder will speak on local Ruidoso history at 11 a.m. Aug. 14 on her new photography history book, "The Carmon Phillips Collection."